Cardinal IG expanding its Fremont plant

INDIANAPOLIS — Cardinal IG in Fremont was one of 22 companies that announced plans to locate or expand in Indiana in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day, which was Friday.

The companies are committing to invest more than $154 million in their Hoosier operations and create up to 1,090 new jobs over the next several years.

“Each day, Hoosiers across the state are developing new solutions and creating crucial products that are shipped to customers across the globe,” Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said. “I’m honored to proclaim (Friday) National Manufacturing Day in Indiana, recognizing the 8,500 businesses in all corners of the state, and to join in celebrating 22 manufacturers that are committing to even more growth here, creating new opportunities for Indiana workers and their families.”

Indiana is a leader in manufacturing, with 8,500 manufacturing facilities and the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the U.S., supporting one in five Hoosier jobs. Manufacturers in Indiana have added 107,300 new jobs since July 2009, ranking No. 2 in the nation and growing at a rate of 25 percent.

The state’s manufacturing industry is diverse, boasting the world’s largest RV production, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the market; the country’s largest steel production, making 27 percent of U.S. steel; the second-largest automotive sector in the nation by GDP; and a leading orthopedics industry, supporting at least 35 percent of the global sector in Warsaw, alone. Indiana also supports strong food and beverage, hardwoods, plastics and rubbers, chemicals and machinery and equipment production.

The 22 companies announcing expansion plans today are growing across 17 counties, from southern to northern Indiana. They represent both homegrown Hoosier companies and global businesses with international headquarters in countries like Japan, Germany and Sweden, and they are creating new jobs in a variety of manufacturing subsectors such as automotive, food and beverage, glass and metals, hardwoods, machinery and more.

Cardinal IG, which manufactures residential insulated glass for windows and doors, will invest $4.75 million to expand its Fremont facility to house a new IG fabrication line which will provide future growth opportunities.

The project will equip a new 58,000-square-foot facility at 301 E. McSwain Drive in Fremont.

The company recently broke ground on the new facility, which will be complete by the beginning of January. Cardinal currently employs 345 full-time associates in Indiana and plans to create 45 jobs by 2021 to support its expansion. The company is currently hiring, and interested applicants can apply at the company’s website, cardinalcorp.com.

“I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the approach that the state of Indiana takes in working with businesses, most recently with the Department of Labor,” said Michael Connell, Cardinal IG plant manager. “It’s partnerships like this and others that define what the state of Indiana represents at large — a supportive resource that works to set the conditions for strong business development and growth.”